Spool with drive feature

ABSTRACT

A spool is provided for winding elongate material thereon. The spool includes a barrel having first and second ends and a central longitudinal axis. First and second flanges extend radially outward from the ends of the barrel. A longitudinal bore is located radially inward of the barrel. A plurality of support members extend radially outward from the bore to the barrel. One or more engagement beads are provided on at least one of the support members and extend longitudinally along the support member. The beads are positioned for engagement with a drive apparatus for facilitating winding of the spool.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a spool for winding elongate material thereon. More specifically, the present invention relates to drive features for a spool.

BACKGROUND

It is known to provide a spool or reel upon which elongate material, such as wire, rope or cable, may be wound for subsequent shipment, storage and use. Such spools typically include a central barrel connected to opposing end flanges. It is further known to provide a core section for mounting the spool on a mandrel during winding and unwinding. Core sections may be connected to the central barrel by various types of support structures.

It is still further known to provide one or more structures on a spool to facilitate winding of the elongate material onto the barrel. One example of such structures are holes adapted to receive a drive apparatus of a winding machine used to rotate the spool. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,710 (Russell et al.) discloses a cable reel having a hole for receipt of a winding dog.

A need exists for a spool having structures to facilitate winding while preferably minimizing the weight and amount of material used to construct the spool. A further need exists for a spool having means for receiving a winding dog while maintaining structural rigidity within the spool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A spool is provided for winding elongate material thereon. The spool includes a cylindrical barrel having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. First and second flanges extend radially outward from the first and second ends of the barrel. A longitudinal bore is located radially inward of the barrel and extends along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of support members extend radially outward from an outer surface of the bore to an inner surface of the barrel. One or more engagement beads are located on at least one of the support members and extend longitudinally along the support member. The engagement beads are positioned for engagement with a drive apparatus for facilitating winding and unwinding of elongate material.

A plurality of longitudinal beads may be provided that extend along an axial portion of the support members. The beads are preferably positioned at a radial distance from the longitudinal axis that is less than the radius of the barrel and greater than the radius of the bore. In addition, opposing beads, extend toward one another, may be positioned on adjacent support members for engagement of the drive apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show forms that are presently preferred. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and instrumentality shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a spool for winding elongate material.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the spool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is second perspective view of the spool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the spool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the spool of FIGS. 1-5 with the engagement positions of a winding dog illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1-5 an embodiment of a shipping spool or reel. The spool is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

The spool 10 comprises a cylindrical barrel 12 and two flanges 14 coupled to the barrel 12 at opposing ends thereof. With particular reference to FIG. 2, the barrel 12 has a first end 16, a second end 18, a longitudinal axis 20 and an outer surface 22. The outer surface 22 is located at a first radius (R₁) from the longitudinal axis 20.

The opposing flanges 14 are contemplated to be identical. As shown in FIGS. 3-5, each flange 14 has an inner hub portion 24 and an outer annular rim 26. Preferably, the hub portion 24 is connected to the annular rim 26 by a radial wall 28. As seen best in FIG. 2, the longitudinal ends of the hub portions 24 define an undulating or toothed surface 40. The toothed surface 40 facilitates stacking of the spool 10, where adjacent spools can interlock to resist twisting and sliding with respect to each other in the stack.

The radial wall 28 of the flange 14 includes a plurality of radial ribs 30 that extend outwardly from the hub 24. The ribs 30 are generally perpendicular to the radial wall 28 and serve to stiffen the flange 14, resisting flex in the axial direction. Additional stiffening of the flanges 14 is provided by brace ribs 32 positioned between the ribs 30.

The flanges 14 may have windows 34 within the radial wall 28 to facilitate viewing of the material wound on the barrel 12. As shown, multiple windows 34 are provided in each flange 14, with each window formed at a different radial distance from the longitudinal axis 20 to provide viewing of the various levels of material wound on the barrel 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2-5, a central bore 36 is located radially inward of the barrel 12. The central bore 36 is cylindrical and extends along the longitudinal axis 20, having a radius (R₂) that is less than the radius of the barrel (R₁). The bore 36 is adapted to receive an arbor or spindle (not illustrated), upon which the spool 10 may be supported for rotation during winding and unwinding of material from the barrel 12.

A plurality of radial support members 38 extend outwardly from the bore 36 to the inside surface of the barrel 12. As best seen in FIG. 2, the radial support members 38 have a first end 42 connected to the bore 36 and a second end 44 connected to the inner surface of the barrel 12. The first end 42 is relatively narrow as compared to the second end 44, creating a generally triangular profile for each support 38. A circumferential support 46 extends around the interior of the barrel 12, providing additional stiffening to the barrel 12. The circumferential support 46 preferably resides in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 20 and is spaced half way between the first and second ends 16, 18 of the barrel 12. Secondary circumferential supports 48 are also provided on the interior of the barrel 12, proximate the first and second ends 16, 18. The supports 46, 48 intersect the radial support members 38, providing structural rigidity to the barrel 12.

Engagement beads 50 extend longitudinally along at least some of the radial support members 38. Referring to FIG. 5, the engagement beads 50 are located at a radial distance (R₃), which is between the radius of the barrel (R₁) and the radius of the bore (R₂). The beads 50 extend generally perpendicular to the radial support members 38 and are positioned to engage a drive apparatus for the spool, such as a winding dog D (see FIG. 6). The beads 50 form a “T” shaped profile, along with the radial support members 38, when viewed from the top. Preferably, the beads 50 are organized in sets of two and located on opposing surfaces of adjacent support members 38. The adjacent beads 50 extend towards each other across the gap between adjacent support members 38. The projecting beads 50 create an engagement surface between adjacent support members 38 for engagement of a winding dog or similar drive apparatus for the spool 10.

As shown in FIG. 6, winding dog D may engage the beads 50 on either radial side. The winding dog D₁ is shown between the beads 50 and the barrel 12. The winding dog D₂ is shown between the beads 50 and the bore 36. The beads 50 restrict radial movement of the winding dog D, thereby maintaining the winding dog at a constant radial distance from the longitudinal axis 20 (and thus the mandrel on which the spool 10 is mounted).

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, longitudinal extensions 52 project axially from the radial support members 38. The extensions 52 position the engagement beads 50 closer to the axial position of the first and second ends 16, 18 to allow the drive apparatus to engage the beads. The projection of the extensions reduces the material of the radial support members 38, which can have a restricted profile, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. This structure helps to reduce the material used in the spool while maintaining structural integrity.

The spool 10 is preferably fabricated from conventional polymeric materials, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or styrene, using conventional manufacturing techniques such as injection molding or extrusion. The barrel 12 may be co-molded with the flanges 14, using single or double molding processes. Alternatively, the barrel 12 may be coupled to flanges 14 using conventional adhesive solvents or ultrasonic welding.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. 

1. A spool for winding elongate material thereon, the spool comprising: a cylindrical barrel having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; first and second flanges respectively extending radially outward from the first and second ends of the barrel; a longitudinal bore located radially inward of the barrel and extending along the same longitudinal axis as the barrel; a plurality of support members extending radially outward from the bore to the barrel; and an engagement bead located on at least one of the support members and extending into a space between adjacent support members, the bead positioned for engagement with a drive apparatus for facilitating winding or unwinding of elongate material on the spool.
 2. The spool according to claim 1, wherein the bead extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel along at least a portion of the support member.
 3. The spool according to claim 1, wherein the support member having the bead thereon comprises a longitudinal extension that is generally coplanar with the support member and extends axially from the support member towards one of the first or second ends of the barrel.
 4. The spool according to claim 3, wherein the bead extends along the longitudinal extension of the support member.
 5. The spool according to claim 1, further comprising a set of two beads located on two adjacent support members, wherein each bead projects from each respective support member towards the bead located on the adjacent support member.
 6. The spool according to claim 5, further comprising multiple sets of beads spaced circumferentially around the spool.
 7. The spool according to claim 1, wherein the engagement bead is positioned on the support member for engagement of a drive apparatus at a radial position between the bead and the bore.
 8. The spool according to claim 1, wherein the engagement bead is positioned on the support member for engagement of a drive apparatus at a radial position between the bead and the barrel.
 9. A spool for winding elongate material comprising: a barrel having a first radius and first and second longitudinal ends; first and second flanges extending radially outward from the first and second longitudinal ends of the barrel, respectively; a cylindrical bore having a second radius that is smaller than the first radius, the bore positioned radially inward of and generally concentric with the barrel; a radial array of support members extending outwardly from the bore to the barrel; and a plurality of longitudinal engagement beads extending from at least a portion of the support members, the beads positioned at a third radius that is less than the first radius and greater than the second radius and each bead extending toward a bead located on an adjacent support member.
 10. The spool according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the radial support members have a longitudinal extension that is generally coplanar with the radial support and extending from the radial support towards one of the first or second longitudinal ends of the barrel.
 11. The spool according to claim 10, wherein each bead in the plurality of longitudinal beads extends along the longitudinal extension of the support members.
 12. The spool according to claim 9, wherein the engagement beads are radially positioned on the support members for engagement of a drive apparatus located at a defined radial position between the bead and the bore.
 13. The spool according to claim 9, wherein the engagement beads are radially positioned on the support members for engagement of a drive apparatus located at a defined radial position between the bead and the barrel.
 14. The spool according to claim 9, wherein the beads extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel along the entire length of the support member. 